Oz ups rating on ‘E.T.’

Language, themes rate 'parental guidance' label

SYDNEY — Oz censors have amazed exex by slapping a parental guidance rating on the 20th-anniversary re-release of Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” a tougher classification than the general rating it got in 1982.

“Spielberg took care to re-examine the elements that could be considered strong by current standards, (and) he decided to remove the guns carried by agents, replacing them with walkie-talkies,” Selwyn said. “The OFLC has complained about some of the language in the film, and yet all of the dialogue was contained in the original.”

UIP will appeal the decision before pic’s Easter release on 250 screens.